Trap.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

T. A. BARRY.

TRAP.

APPLICATION Hum APR. 26, 1006.

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wmeooao- No- 830,284. PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

T. A. BARRY.

' TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1005.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. BARRY, OF ATHENS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ELLA M. SIEBERT, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906,

Application filed April 26, 1906. Serial No. 313,843-

To all 1071,0127! it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. BARRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Athens, in the county of Menard and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traps and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in animal-traps and it consists incertain novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive device of this character which may be quickly set and which will be very effective in operation.

The above and other objects which will appear as the nature of my invention is better understood are accomplished by means of the construction illustrated in the acccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved animal-trap. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one end of the same with its top removed; and Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views, taken, res pectively,on the planes indicated by the lines3 3 and 44 in Fig.2. Fig. 5is adetail elevation showing one of the heads 14 provided with a notch or groove in the upper side thereof, said notch being shown as ex aggerated for the purposes of illustration.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 denotes my improved trap, here shown in the form of a rectangular box with the trap mechanism mounted in each of its four side walls. Since this trap mechanism 2 is the same on each of the four sides of the box, I will describe but one. It comprises a base 3, secured upon the bottom of the box at the lower end of a vertical slot 4 in the Side Wall. This slot alines with a similar slot in a wear plate 5, secured upon the front face of said. wall, and it is disposed beneath an opening 6 in said side wall for the reception of the head, limb, or other portion of the animal to be caught. Spaced from the inner face of the side wall is a plate 7, which is also formed with an opening to aline with the opening 6, and movable transversely in the space between said wall and plate are the swinging jaws S of the trap. These are in the form of metal plates pivoted at their lower inner corners, as shown at 9, in the bifurcated upper end of an upright or standard 10, projecting from the base 3 and having in their opposing inner edges concave serrated portions or recesses 11, which tightly engage the animal when the trap is sprung. The jaws S are swung to their open position by coil springs or the like 12, attached to their up )er ends and to the inner face of the side wall of the box, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and they are swung together to their closed position by means of a still coilspring 13, which surrounds the upright or standard 10 and is confined between the base plate 3 and a sliding head or nut 14. The upper side edges of the latter engage the lower bottom edges of the jaws 8 and swing said jaws together under the action of the spring 13. Projecting horizontally from the head 14 is a stud 15, which extends through the slot 4 and the slotted plate 5, so that the trap may be readily set by pressing downwardly upon said stud with the foot. The head .14 is held in its lowered position upon the standard 10, so that the jaws will be retained-in their open position by the springs 12 by means of a latch 16, which has a notched or grooved upper end 17 to engage the notch or groove at the rear upper end of the head 14, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The upper face of the end 17 is beveled downwardly, and the lower edge of the rear portion of the head 14 is beveled upwardly, so that when said head is moved downwardly by de pressing the stud 15 the latch-lever 16 will swing rearwardly and permit said head to pass it. Said latch-lever 16 is pivoted at its lower end, as shown at 18, upon the baseplate 3, and it is actuated upwardly and outwardly by the spring 19.

When the trap is set, the latch-lever holds the head 14 in its lowered position, and it is swung rearwardly to release said head by a trigger 20 in the form, of a bell-crank pivoted upon a second upright or standard 21., projecting from the baseplate 3. This trigger 20 has its lower arm connected by a link 22 to a latch-lever, and its upwardly and forwardly projecting arm is shaped to receive the bait and is disposed in longitudinal alinement with the opening 6 in the side wall of the trap body or casing.

The construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be seen that when the trap is set, as shown in full lines in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be sprung or operated by the slightest movement of the trigger 21 produced by an animal nibbling or pawing at the bait upon it. IVhen said trigger is moved, it releases the latch-lever 16, and the latter releases the head 14, which is moved vertically under the action of the spring 13 and swings the jaws 8 to their closed position to grab the animal between them. The device is of simple and practical construction, and it is exceedingly quick and efficient in operation. It may be used in one or more of the side walls of a boX or casing of any form and construction.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my inyention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a trap of the character described, a base, a standard projecting therefrom, jaws pivotally mounted upon said standard, a sliding head upon said standard for actuating said jaws, a coil-spring surrounding said standard for actuating said head, a latch for retaining said head in a retracted position, and a trigger for releasing said latch.

2. In a trap of the character described, a base, a standard projecting therefrom, jaws pivotally mounted upon said standard, a sliding head upon said standard for actuating said jaws, a coil-spring surrounding said standard for actuating said head, a latch for retaining said head in a retracted position, a second standard, a bell crank pivotally mounted upon the latter and having a baithook upon one of its arms, and a link connection between the other arm of said bell-crank and the said latch.

3. In a trap of the character described, a support, swinging jaws, means for normally opening said jaws, a spring-actuating element for closing said jaws, a latch for holding said element in a retracted position, and a trigger for releasing said latch.

4. In a trap of the character described, a

support, swinging jaws, a coil-spring for normally opening said jaws, a sliding head for closing said jaws, a spring for actuating said head, a latch for retaining said head in a retracted position, a projection upon said head for moving it to its retracted position, and a trigger for releasing said latch.

5. In a trap of the character described, a casing having an opening and a slot therein, a standard within said casing, jaws pivoted upon said standard to swing across said opening, a spring-actuated head upon said standard for closing said jaws, a stud upon said head projecting through said slot, a latch for holding said head in a retracted position, a trigger for releasing said latch, and means for swinging said jaws to their open position when said head is retracted.

6. In a trap of the character described, a casing having an opening and a slot in one of its walls, a plate spaced from the inner face of said wall and having an opening to aline with the opening in said wall, a standard within said casing, jaws pivotally mounted upon said standard to swing between said wall and said plate and across the opening therein, a sliding he ad upon said standard having a projection to slide in the slot in said wall, a coilspring upon said standard for actuating said head, coil-springs attached to said jaws and to said casing, a latch for holding said head in a retracted position, and a trigger for releasing said latch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. A. BARRY.

Witnesses:

T. J CoNDoN, A. J. DUNIGAN. 

